HEAT ADVISORY
Much of Iowa is expected to roast in this week’s heat wave — which may end up lasting much longer — and it follows a very steamy July. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the just-ended month was one-degree warmer than normal statewide and we had one-inch less of rainfall than the average. Glisan says Iowa’s farmers are especially concerned about forecast models that show more of the same during August. The Climate Prediction Center is releasing its maps for expected temperatures and precipitation during August — and both show the hot, dry trend will continue for Iowa during the month ahead. While we’re in the third year of a La Nina pattern, Glisan says it’s still too early to say if the warmer, drier weather will last into the fall months.
OPEN 4 BUSINESS
An excited Scott Pageler won first place in the “Open 4 Business” contest, held in Pella Monday afternoon. The competition pit five contestants against each other to see who had the best presentation from a main street business. Scott, who owns Hardware Hank and Flooring in Le Mars, presented his idea for a mobile flooring business, which is designed to come to the customer’s front door. The idea won over the judges, who awarded Pageler the top prize, 20-thousand dollars, to pursue his idea. The funds come from the Main Street Iowa program, of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
ORANGE CITY COUNCIL
The Orange City Council Monday approved an amended contract with a builder for development of a residential community west of the new elementary school. Vision Builders initially planned to purchase 17.5 acres at that site, but in later discussions with the city, expanded that to 23.5 acres. They plan to purchase the property for some 586-thousand dollars. It is called the Canal Development, and it will include construction of condominiums, duplexes, and single family homes. It will also contain canal and a water feature within the development. The contractor also indicated they planned to resell 1.5 acres of that property to the Orange City Health Foundation for one of their future projects.
The Orange City Council approved a plan to split the timing of bids for a new Puddle Jumper Park. All bids were rejected last month, because of high costs. Instead, the council agreed to bid for park equipment immediately, to take advantage of current pricing. Adjustments to the equipment list will render cost savings of 100-thousand dollars. A public hearing for opening these bids will be held August 15. The rest of the construction for the park project will be bid later this fall, for constructuion in 2023.
The Orange City council set a public hearing for August 15 on release of city-owned property in the Gelderland addition. 26 lots, some for duplexes, others for single family homes, are planned for the property on 14th Street SE, which is adjacent to the new Orange City Elementary School. Council approval on the 15th would release the property for sale.
Orange City’s council approved a resolution which authorizes the issuance of up to 11.1 million dollars in bonds, to fund construction of water system improvements southwest of the city. The city plans to drill a new well, and lay pipeline to deliver its water to the city.
MIDWEST ECONOMY
The latest Creighton University survey of business in nine Midwest states shows continued growth – but economist Ernie Goss says that growth isn’t very fast. The overall index moved up by a little more than a point in July. Goss says the signs point to the country being in a recession or moving into a recession in the next quarter. The survey asks business leaders questions about employment and other economic trends. Inflation continues to indicate excessive inflationary pressures at the wholesale level. Confidence levels among supply managers were at the worst recorded level since the last recession, in 2008-09.
Goss says the 59-point-eight index for July shows solid growth, but slower than we were seeing earlier this year.
Iowa’s business conditions index was up 3 points over the past month, to 57.4.
GUARD RECRUITING
Iowa National Guard officials say they are experiencing trouble recruiting new members. The problem started during the pandemic – which limited the Guard’s access to one of its main recruiting grounds, schools. Iowa National Guard Colonel Trenton Twedt says a 20-thousand dollar signing bonus is being offered to new recruits in an effort to boost the numbers. Recruiters are reportedly finding fewer people who are willing and able to serve now.
CLIMATE SCIENCE DEGREE
Students at Iowa State University will have the opportunity to study climate science in the upcoming school year. The university’s new major aims to prepare its students to bring about solutions to climate change. Owen Halverson, an I-S-U junior who plans to study climate science, says he sees the degree as a means to address increased severe weather patterns. Kristie Franz , the I-S-U chair of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, says it can prepare them for careers in everything from sustainable design planning to advising private industries, like insurance. The degree will allow students to choose from six areas of focus — ranging from climate policy to agriculture.
FAIR QUILTS
The 25th Annual Quilt Auction for Life Skills at the Plymouth County fair netted more than 31-thousand dollars. Shelly Thomson of Life Skills said there was much excitement at the auction, and spirited bidding.
Thomson explained Meyer’s auction entry.
That’s a high number of quilts for the benefit auction, and it took two hours to work through them all. Total receipts at the auction were 31,110 dollars, This became a special event, in that it also commemorated the 50th anniversary of Life Skills Training Center, a facility for adults with disabilities.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Tuesday is National Night Out and area communities are planning for the event. Remsen will have first responders, inflatables, train rides, BINGO, and a pedal tractor pull. The activities in Remsen begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Sioux County Emergency Management is hosting a “First Responser Meet and Greet” to take place at the Orange City Fire Department Tuesday (August 2) from 6 till 8 p.m. The event will be “sensory friendly.” Organizers say it’s important for some children with disabilities to learn to interact with first responders and just as important for first responders to understand disabilities and respond effectively and safely.
Iowa communities that have registered to hold events tonight include: Marcus, Remsen, Sioux City Storm Lake. To find the National Night Out event in your town, go to www.natw.org.
As KLEM reported earlier, an event is being planned for October in Le Mars in place of National Night Out.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINIC
The Sioux City Planned Parenthood office is seeing an increase in patients from South Dakota and other states where abortion is now banned. Sarah Traxler, with Planned Parenthood North Central States, says as more states pass abortion restrictions, the clinic is poised to become a critical point of access for the Midwest.
The clinic is being careful in how it handles abortions for patients from states with bans, as Traxler says those patients now have to complete their medication abortion on-site.
The clinic is now open two days a week to accommodate Iowa’s new law requiring patients seeking an abortion to make two appointments, at least 24 hours apart.
